2026 car comparisons

[Emag]

https://i.postimg.cc/WpSnkDHV/image.png

I was just browsing around this thread again, and honestly, looking back at this image, it seems to me that it is really close to the Ferrari/Merc/Aston concept. It's just very "immature" and completely devoid of details. However the general philosophy is something the FIA seems to have predicted themselves with this render. Downwashing sidepods that keep the undercut undisturbed all the way to the diffuser, while also utilizing the same diffuser hole the aforementioned 3 teams (plus RedBull) are using.

That render was "revealed" in December. It's likely been "designed" after the FIA saw what teams have been up to. Not a case of the FIA "predicting" any designs.

The original render (from 2024) was devoid of any features.

https://www.pmw-magazine.com/wp-content ... titive.png

This is a very early rendition which was just meant to show some of the physical differences. In 2024, the rules weren't even finalized yet.

Besides, even if you assume FIA knew exactly what the teams were doing, there is no reason to put such details on a render, exposing half of the grid's "secrets". The renders are usually just representations of how a new reg-set car would look like and are not designed with performance considerations. They're just visual aids for the general audience.
The 2022 renders for example, were completely basic in comparison and didn't reveal anything about the cars we eventually saw.

[SB15]

https://i.postimg.cc/WpSnkDHV/image.png

I was just browsing around this thread again, and honestly, looking back at this image, it seems to me that it is really close to the Ferrari/Merc/Aston concept. It's just very "immature" and completely devoid of details. However the general philosophy is something the FIA seems to have predicted themselves with this render. Downwashing sidepods that keep the undercut undisturbed all the way to the diffuser, while also utilizing the same diffuser hole the aforementioned 3 teams (plus RedBull) are using.

I couldn't disagree more. The render definitely has a lot of details we see with the teams, even though it's a more "simplified" it is still a very good interpretation of the regulations. A lot better vs the ground effect interpretation.

[AR3-GP]

[AR3-GP]

Engine sounds

[venkyhere]

https://i.postimg.cc/59YKnhSf/2026louve ... ssmall.jpg

Nice to see a napkin sketch from seven months ago come to fruition.

https://i.postimg.cc/Qdn0GgSM/floorboar ... ticism.png

Indeed. W.r.t your sketch, I think AMR is the closest resemblance, given their 'cannon exits' at the end of the waterslide. And Redbull being the most 'deviant' of all.

[Brahmal]

Nice clip. Aston Honda sounds mean as hell, which may not be a good thing.

[wuzak]

I think the Mercedes PU lends itself to tight packaging in the y direction and hence both Merc & McLaren are the closest of the lot to 50% position. Ferrari seems like an extreme case while Redbull is in between the two cases.

You mean the X direction?

The Y direction is side to side.

The length of the engine from chassis mounting plane to gearbox mounting plane is fixed at 480mm for all manufacturers.

It may be that some teams prefer a slightly more forward weight bias.

They can do this by moving the driver as far forward as allowed, and move the engine and ERS forward and extend the gearbox housing.

That said, I think most of the difference you are seeing is due to parallax error. Especially for the McLaren, which is angled away from the camera, and the Mercedes, which is angled toward the camera, which is also elevated more.

[brakeboosted]

https://i.postimg.cc/hjYYWpQy/image.png

There has to be a point where we draw a line for image resolution where we decide that actually, that might not be useful or contribute much to the conversation lol.

[AR3-GP]

https://i.postimg.cc/hjYYWpQy/image.png

There has to be a point where we draw a line for image resolution where we decide that actually, that might not be useful or contribute much to the conversation lol.

I was only attempting to compare the rear wings. The rest is rubbish.

[f1316]

I would group the sidepods like this:

Concept 1: Aston and Mclaren
Concept 2: Ferrari and Mercedes
Concept 3: Red Bull

https://i.postimg.cc/B667f4V5/image.png

Still not convinced the McLaren has a mouse hole. The Ferrari’s seems the biggest and most “open” whereas Mercedes/Red Bull/Aston seem to have a kind of L-shaped one.

[AR3-GP]

I would group the sidepods like this:

Concept 1: Aston and Mclaren
Concept 2: Ferrari and Mercedes
Concept 3: Red Bull

https://i.postimg.cc/B667f4V5/image.png

Still not convinced the McLaren has a mouse hole. The Ferrari’s seems the biggest and most “open” whereas Mercedes/Red Bull/Aston seem to have a kind of L-shaped one.

I was only referring to the sidepods.

[f1316]

I would group the sidepods like this:

Concept 1: Aston and Mclaren
Concept 2: Ferrari and Mercedes
Concept 3: Red Bull

https://i.postimg.cc/B667f4V5/image.png

Still not convinced the McLaren has a mouse hole. The Ferrari’s seems the biggest and most “open” whereas Mercedes/Red Bull/Aston seem to have a kind of L-shaped one.

I was only referring to the sidepods.

No, I know, just a separate observation based on the picture shown and other assertions that they do have one (which I think are more confirmation bias than any actual visual information).

[AR3-GP]

Still not convinced the McLaren has a mouse hole. The Ferrari’s seems the biggest and most “open” whereas Mercedes/Red Bull/Aston seem to have a kind of L-shaped one.

I was only referring to the sidepods.

No, I know, just a separate observation based on the picture shown and other assertions that they do have one (which I think are more confirmation bias than any actual visual information).

I agree with you on that observation.

[Emag]

Still not convinced the McLaren has a mouse hole. The Ferrari’s seems the biggest and most “open” whereas Mercedes/Red Bull/Aston seem to have a kind of L-shaped one.

I was only referring to the sidepods.

No, I know, just a separate observation based on the picture shown and other assertions that they do have one (which I think are more confirmation bias than any actual visual information).

They don't have one like the others do no. When I looked at it on the beginning it just looked totally sealed off. But then some angles got shared and I was a little confused because I didn't know what I was looking at exactly. That however ended up getting cleared once we got a really good quality pic of McLaren's diffuser.

To my eyes, it only looks a little weird with how sloped the diffuser seems at the throat, but there's no slot.

[venkyhere]

I think the Mercedes PU lends itself to tight packaging in the y direction and hence both Merc & McLaren are the closest of the lot to 50% position. Ferrari seems like an extreme case while Redbull is in between the two cases.

You mean the X direction?

The Y direction is side to side.

oops! yes. X-direction, not Y. Correcting the original post.
Making too many silly errors the past few days. Sorry.